Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2014

Fish!

Ooh how I love my fish!!

Now all the pieces are cut out they have to be glued (yes glued) to the background!

Next is to decide what background to put him on. Do I piece something? Or just go plain?  No I couldn't possible put him on a plain piece!!!!

More soon!

Fabric Fish

 I received some wonderful presents this year, including very snugly slippers, a camper hamper - full of goodies to eat and keep me warm in my camper van and a fantastic quilt book and fabric.

Free Style Quilts by Susan Carlson is a new approach to quilting for me and involves building your picture up using a collage approach and glue (totally alien!)

So yesterday Faye and I sat down together and picked a fish to make and went through my fabric stash looking for fish like fabric and bits that would work as fins and gills. Here are some of the fabrics I have chosen.  It is interesting to see how different Faye's fabric choices are.  I'm sure she will post on her blog here

My fish is coming along nicely.  As you can see though it is work in progress.  Hopefully I will get some more done over the next couple of days.  but I had such fun!

I just had to post this photo taken Boxing Day on our walk along the beach.  It was so beautiful that everyone was out in force (especially after the dreadful gales we have had over the last couple of days), but it was great to see the children playing on the beach and having fun.  Even the RNLI turned out with their life boat, complete with Santa!  If it wasn't for everyone in winter coats you would think it was the summer!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
and a
Happy, Healthy, Fabric
filled NEW YEAR!

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is a busy time for everyone, but this year, since DH's heart attack we have been taking things easy!  But I have managed to do some hand sewing.  Lots of hexies and I finally added my name to my Christmas stocking ~ I did everyone elses name when I made them years ago but never quite got round to embroidering mine.  The stocking is one of Debbie Mumms fabrics (many years ago I loved her folk art fabric and even now it has its appeal, although if I were to make it now it would probably be bright colours!)

Thread catcher

This little tread catcher is such a cute little thing to make and would make a great present for quilting or sewing friends (I could easily start a production line). I made it out of two of my favourite fabrics of the moment and I love it!!  I picked up the pattern from blogland via a link to another link ~ well you know what I mean.  But the original pattern comes from a lady in Canada and the pattern is here

RSC 13 and Christmas bunting

December is catch up month!  I have missed out on both brown and black, so have done a couple of disappearing nine patch.  I really love the brown fabric.

The Christmas garland goes up every year, but this year we decided it needed something a bit extra!  So I rooted around in my Christmas fabric stash and made some bunting.  I'm really pleased with it!

Free style patchwork

Back in my work room today I decided to sew my blocks together and square them off........what possessed me to straighten the edges when its free style patchwork.  I can only put it down to my lack of concentration.  They would have looked far better wonky!!!!  To late now for that!  I'm going to add some boarders and see how it evolves.  Still enjoyed myself though.

Also my DH and I put up our Christmas garland across the fireplace (well I put it up he supervised!) and it is crying out for some bunting....watch this space.

Free style patchwork!

It's been three weeks since I've even looked at my blog or done any sewing and such a lot has happened!  Two weeks ago my DH had a heart attack (even now I find it hard to believe, he is so fit and healthy) and on Monday he was back in hospital having four more stents inserted in his coronary artery.  Thankfully he is on the mend, but obviously life has slowed down while he follows a rehabilitation regime.

Yesterday I went into my work room and did some sewing ~ I haven't wanted to do anything, not even hand sewing (my concentration has been zero).  But I guess its a reflection that I am settling down a bit, so while he had his afternoon nap I did some free style patchwork!

I've wanted to try this ever since reading a tutorial by Melody, whose blog Fibermania you can see here.  I didn't measure any fabric and I only used the ruler to straighten the edges to attach the boarders.  I love Melody's work, her use of colour is really exciting and inspiring.  I'm not sure what I will do with these little blocks but actually it doesn't matter the main thing is I enjoyed myself!